Ireland: Irish pubs and restaurants allowed to serve indoors!

It will finally be possible to eat and drink indoors... under certain conditions, of course!

Gwen Rouviere
by Gwen Le Cointre
26 July 2021, 14:00
Ireland: Irish pubs and restaurants allowed to serve indoors!
Un irish pub - © Marc Braner

This time it’s done: Irish pubs and restaurants all over Ireland are now allowed to serve their food and drink indoors… as well as outdoors! This new measure, authorized by the Irish government, marks a new turning point in its lifting of anti-covid restrictions. Until now, pubs and restaurants were only allowed to receive the public on their terraces!

The hotel sector is fully operational

Irish pubs are getting ready to return to their former glory…

This is great news for Ireland’s restaurant sector. What’s more, thousands of establishments with no terrace have been out of business since the start of the pandemic… for some, leading to bankruptcy and closure.

Fortunately, Irish state aid has enabled struggling pubs and restaurants to hang on. They hope to take advantage of this massive reopening to boost their economy!

Since this morning, many establishments have been welcoming their customers in their dining rooms… A new atmosphere reigns here, much to the delight of locals and tourists alike.

But be warned: the Irish government has laid down a set of guidelines for customers wishing to eat and/or drink indoors… And these are numerous, to say the least.

These include :

  • Customers must show staff a valid health pass certifying that they have been fully vaccinated (with 2 doses), or that they were infected with Covid-19 less than 6 months ago. (QR code scanners will be used on the door, but paper passes will also be accepted.)
  • Proof of identity will also be required for customers. Anyone in possession of a vaccine pass must be able to prove that the certificate belongs to them.
  • Customers must provide their contact details to the establishment, so that they can be informed if the restaurant or pub registers any cases of Covid-19.
  • The customer must not exceed a maximum of 6 people per table. (This limit does not include accompanying children aged 12 or under).
  • Pubs and restaurants must close by 11.30pm.

According to the Irish government, these instructions should enable the hotel and restaurant industry to get back on its feet in the long term, while preserving everyone’s safety.


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